How To Cut Outdoor Hinges?

This whole project may look like an easy job to do. Installing a new door can become a child’s play if we knew how to cut outdoor hinges. The most vital type of doors are hard door slabs, but they don’t come with preinstalled hinges. And doors with preinstalled hinges are not so strong. So how to cut outdoor hinges?

Contents

How To Cut Outdoor Hinges – Step By Step Guide

Total Time: 1.5 Hours

Step 1: Measurement And Marking

1. For two holes hinges: Measure 5 inches from the top edge of the door. And mark it with a pencil, now place the upper edge of a hinge on top of the mark. Again mark the center of the two hinges holes and also outline hinges with the help of a pencil. Measure 10 inches from the bottom edge of the door and apply a similar procedure as given above.

2. For three holes hinges: Measure 5 inches from the top edge of the door. And mark it with a pencil, now place below the edge of a hinge on top of the mark. Again mark the middle hole of the hinge and also outline a hinge with the help of a pencil. Measure 10 inches from the bottom edge of the door and apply a similar procedure as given above.

Step 2: Marking Mortise And Using A Utility Knife

Take the utility knife and start carving along one of the pencil marks made in earlier steps. For the outline, Use a good amount of force on the knife to make the outline clear and dense. This will give a clear outline of the mortise for the next step. Apply the same procedure to mark another mortise.

Using the mortising template: This tool is used for bringing more accuracy in cutting the outline of hinges. Place the mortising template on the pencil marks of one of the hinges. And press the template for making dense carves along the outlet edges. Apply a similar procedure to mark another mortise.

Step 3: Cutting Outlets Using Chisel And Mallet

Use mallet and chisel to take out the marked outline of the upper hinge on the door and to shove out the mortise. Try to take out layers by layers of wood and don’t apply a lot of force at once. Dig out the holes of hinges first. Keep digging the outline of hinges with the help of a mallet and chisel until the hinges fix perfectly. Keep checking the depth of mortise and keep making a required adjustment using chisel and mallet. Apply a similar procedure to cut out the lower hinge.

1. Using a router: Adjust the router on the outlet of the upper hinge. Set the desirable depth on the router scale. Push the router into the door for making mortise. Remove the router. Check out for any adjustments. For making small corrections, using a chisel and mallet is the best option. Apply the same steps to cut out the lower hinge.

2. Using drill
Adjust the router on the outlet of the upper hinge. Set the desirable depth on the router scale. Push the router into the door for making mortise. Remove the router. Check out for any adjustments. For making small corrections, using a chisel and mallet is the best option. Apply the same steps to cut out the lower hinge.

Tools Required

Measuring tape-To make sure that the fitting is as per the requirement.
Pencil-to marks the measurement so that you can perform the next step accordingly.
Paper-To write down the measurement to avoid future error
Hinges-For connecting door to the frame and for the movement of the door.
Utility knife-to darken the marked boundary
Chisel-for shaving the wood is outlining of hinges.
Mallet-it is used with a chisel so that it can shave the wood outline of hinges; these tools are easily available at our home.
Drill press-It is used for penetration threw wood for attaching hinges

Tips

If by mistake, the cutting of hinges becomes too deep, then you can cut out cardboard of the same size of hinges. Place the cardboard in between the door and hinges like a sheet. This cardboard will provide some support to the hinges. If you need to cut out hinges on very heavy doors or many doors, then the best tool can be a wood router.

Precautions

Always wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from wood shaves and dust. Which comes out during the procedure. Before anything, the priority should always be safety. Be calm and perform your task precisely. A small mistake can ruin your project and can even lead to severe injuries.

FAQs

1. What is the requirement of three hinges?

Doors used for security purposes require three hinges. Three hinges give the strength to hold the heavy door and also to make it durable on the frame. For doors over the length of 2200mm can use four hinges also.

2. Do hinges play any role in opening the door inward and outward?

If we connect the left side of a hinge to the left side of the door and vice-versa, then the door will open inward. Similarly, if we connect the left side of the hinge to the right side of the door, then the door will open outward.

3. How can you loosen a tight door hinge?

To loosen up the tight door hinges, simply unscrew the hinges and place the hinges size cardboard behind and increase the gapes along the sides. It will simply loosen the space between hinges.

4. What is the standard door hinges size?

The standard door hinges size is 3.5″x3.5″. This measurement is from the top end to the bottom end of the hinge along the length and from the outside of the hinge to the side of the hinge when it opens.

5. Which is better ball hinge or plain bearing hinge?

Ball-bearing hinges are better than plain bearing hinges. Ball-bearing hinges provide smooth movement of the door along with the hinges. And also decrease the noise which comes out during the closing and opening of doors.

Final Thought

Start drilling from the corner of the outlet to the center. The holes and cut-out will be made within a second. Repeat the above procedure for lower hinges. To bring any adjustments and finishing, we recommend you use a chisel and mallet. This makes the whole thing way more quickly as compared to other methods of drilling into the woods.